The Industrial Arts in SpainRiaño, Juan F. (Juan Facundo)
History
The Industrial Arts in Spain
Riaño, Juan F. (Juan Facundo)
Decorative arts -- Spain -- History; Pottery -- Spain -- History
In 1784 the Count sent two potters, Christoval Pastor and Vicente
Alvaro, to Paris to study the last improvements in porcelain. They
returned in 1789, and the porcelain they made was much commended and
highly approved. They write to the Count in September, 1789: "We know
that Don Domingo has sent your Excellency 97 objects made by us, marked
No. 3, 1, No. 4, No. 3, with a dot, and No. 3 with the letter 'P'; No. 4
with the letter 'H,' all made by me in clay, and varnished with the
greatest care. Three flask-stands and two toothpick-stands were made by
me, Pastor, before I went to Paris. The marble wares, Nos. 3 and 4, and
other similar objects with gold lines, are also made by me."
In 1784, Mariano Garcia of Valencia made some experiments before the
Directors of laying on gold, and different shades of purples. A number
of specimens were sent to the Count, but Knipfer did not approve of the
plan adopted, and it was afterwards abandoned.
Marbled wares of different colours were made at Alcora in vast
quantities in 1790. A large depôt was established in 1791 of Alcora ware
in the Calle de Luzon at Madrid. The printed prospectuses which were
issued give a long and detailed list of the different productions of the
manufactory, which chiefly consisted of dinner and tea services, and
other objects of domestic use.
In 1792 nearly 100 painters and modellers existed at the manufactory; 45
were employed to work in porcelain and pipeclays, and 26 were
apprentices.
Cloostermans was forced to leave Alcora in April, 1793, owing to certain
disturbances which occurred at Valencia, when, owing to a proclamation
of the Captain-Generals, he and other Frenchmen residing in the province
of Valencia, were ordered to leave the country. The Count gives
instructions that Cloostermans should want for nothing on his journey;
he writes ordering that 3000 reales should be given him, and his yearly
pension of 1200 pounds (_tornoises_). Cloostermans left with his three
sons after giving up the receipts and other documents connected with the
manufactory. In 1795 permission was given that Frenchmen might return to
Spain, and he resumed his post in the manufactory.
The principal efforts at Alcora since Knipfer, Martin, and Cloostermans
entered the manufactory, had been centred in making porcelain and
pipeclay wares of different kinds. A great number of essays with foreign
earths were made; and all those of a suitable kind which were known in
Spain. Count Aranda was always most anxious that Spanish materials
should be used in the manufactory; he says, in a letter written in 1790,
"the Kaolin of Cataluña may be good or bad, but it is acknowledged to be
Kaolin, and if not used these works must be closed." This Kaolin had
been found by Christobal Pastor and Vicente Albaro on their return from
Paris.
Baron Davillier has been good enough to inform me that he has found
mention of some objects of Alcora wares which Count Aranda sent as a
present to his friend Voltaire, at Ferney.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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